Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, the Peak Villa.
...
In front of Lin Zhao's residence at the Peak Villa, Nu Zhi buried a bronze bowl artifact deep into the open ground. Soon, a pool of clear spring water emerged from the ground, followed by a tender green lotus that slowly bloomed. As the artifact in the ground operated, the water flow grew stronger. In less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a large lotus pond appeared below the bamboo forest. Above the lake, wisps of milky white spiritual energy flowed, instantly adding much spiritual essence to the Peak Villa.
At this moment, the Peak Villa finally began to feel like a mountain sect. Every sect in the human realm had its own methods of gathering spiritual energy, just like Qingliang Sect, Qinglan Sect, and so on, all of which had different ways of consolidating the spiritual energy of the mountains and rivers, gathering the fortune of a region within their gates. This way, the cultivation efficiency of the disciples in the sect would be more effective with half the effort.
With this lotus pond, the dozens of buildings surrounding the Peak Villa were now enveloped in spiritual energy.
"Amazing..."
Lin Zhao sat by the door, clapping his hands gently. "This tenth-realm rogue cultivator truly had many good things."
"Mm."
Nu Zhi nodded and smiled, "My lord, is there anything else? If not, I'll go forge swords."
"Go ahead."
Lin Zhao watched Nu Zhi walk away. At this moment, he saw Chen Ben walking on the mountain path from a distance, practicing a fist stance every few steps, his arms held horizontally by his sides, streams of dense fist intent flowing from his body. The cultivation speed of this ninth-realm martial artist was not ordinary. Just as Mu Gua had said, once this kid was guided, his fist cultivation would truly improve at a speed of a thousand miles a day. It was estimated that it wouldn't be long before Chen Ben became a tenth-realm martial artist!
Moreover, this kid possessed a body and physique of innate divine strength. His physical body was even stronger than that of demonic cultivators of the same realm. Therefore, if they were both at the Sea Stepping realm, Chen Ben's fists would be fiercer and harder. Among human cultivators of the same realm, he was basically invincible. Even when facing demonic cultivators of the same realm, he could still gain an advantage. This was his most valuable quality.
If one day Chen Ben were to reach the Upper Five Realms and become a Heavenly Origin realm martial artist, he would definitely be a terrifying existence. Even when facing a twelfth-realm Rebirth realm martial artist of the human race, he would not be inferior. And if Chen Ben were fortunate enough to enter the Rebirth realm, it would be unimaginable. Perhaps... he could easily punch a thirteenth-realm Great Demon, and might even be able to throw a punch at a fourteenth-realm being like a Demon Ancestor.
Lin Zhao had great expectations for Chen Ben.
"Chen Ben!"
"Yes!"
Chen Ben saw Lin Zhao calling him and smiled happily. He maintained his fist stance, simply cupping his fists and said, "Brother Lin Zhao, are you home?"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao stood in front of the pavilion. Behind him was his residence in the Peak Villa, a two-story building with four rooms, warm in winter and cool in summer, facing a lotus pond with abundant spiritual energy. It could be considered the CBD of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. He looked at Chen Ben and smiled, "The 'Rong Ma Fist Technique' emphasizes becoming stronger when facing stronger opponents, striking with swiftness, and throwing punches without reservation. Mu Gua should have explained all these principles to you, right?"
"Yes."
Chen Ben respectfully replied, "Master has said these words many times."
"Good."
Lin Zhao said, "Actually, I used to practice fist techniques too. I was also a martial artist, but I didn't practice the 'Rong Ma Fist Technique.' Instead, I practiced the 'Farmer's Three Punches,' mixed with some of the fist principles of the twelfth-realm Rebirth realm martial artist, Old Marshal Chen. May I ramble on for a bit? If you find it useful, listen. If not, continue learning fist principles from Mu Gua."
Chen Ben's eyes lit up, "Ah? Brother Lin Zhao is going to teach me fist techniques personally?"
"Mm!"
Lin Zhao smiled slightly, spun around, and sat on a rock by the roadside. He picked a bamboo branch and drew a circle on the ground. "In my opinion, the ultimate fist principle of all fist techniques in the world is ultimately the same. Martial artists practice for a breath of true energy, a breath of dominance. No matter who the opponent is, one must first have the courage to throw a punch. This fist principle also aligns with the 'Rong Ma Fist Technique'."
Chen Ben nodded.
Lin Zhao drew a line through the center of the circle with the bamboo branch. "However, everything in the world adheres to the principles of yin and yang, of emptiness and fullness. Ultimately, fist techniques and fist principles are the same. Even the fiercest fist technique should leave room for maneuver. This point aligns with the 'Farmer's Three Punches' principle. Each punch appears to be thrown with full force, but in reality, some reserve is kept. This reserve provides a margin for error."
"..."
Chen Ben scratched his head, "Brother Lin Zhao, I think I understand a little, but I also feel like I don't understand at all..."
"Haha~~~"
Lin Zhao chuckled and said, "Then let me put it in simpler terms. When you throw a punch, leave twenty percent of your strength in reserve. This gives you room to retract your fist or dodge. However, this twenty percent of reserve is not wasted; it will be added to the power of the next punch. Then, leave another twenty percent of reserve for the next punch, and so on. In the end, it's about using clever strength, not just blindly punching forward. Otherwise, when you encounter someone stronger than you, you can only fight until you are exhausted and still be unable to defeat your opponent."
"So that's how it is..."
Chen Ben scratched his head with one hand and clenched his fist with the other. "I understand a little now. I will try to integrate this fist principle into my techniques and see."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao said, "This is just a suggestion. You can handle it as you see fit. Use it if it helps you, and ignore it if it doesn't. After all... my highest realm as a martial artist before was only eighth realm, which is even lower than yours..."
Chen Ben took a step back and cupped his fists towards Lin Zhao. "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Lin Zhao. May I continue practicing my punches?"
"Go ahead."
...
Lin Zhao went down the mountain. He had nothing to do today, so why not go down the mountain to kill demons and level up.
When he reached the foot of the Peak Villa, he saw Dong Zang carrying a large pile of Spring Festival couplets and door gods up the mountain. Lin Zhao was stunned, "Miss Dong Zang, what are you doing?"
"Young Master."
Dong Zang bowed and saluted, smiling. "The residences in the Peak Villa are almost all built. But the New Year has passed, so I wanted to add some Spring Festival couplets and door gods to make them look better."
"Mm, that seems to be the case. Go ahead."
"Yes."
Dong Zang ascended the mountain path.
Lin Zhao continued down the mountain. Outside the mountain gate, on a blue rock, Chu Yu, dressed in a green dress, was practicing a fist stance. As a tenth-realm Sea Stepping realm martial artist, Chu Yu's fist techniques were already quite advanced. She was at the peak of the Sea Stepping realm, only one step away from the Heavenly Origin realm, but she had been unable to break through. This was related to her identity as a sword cultivator. Martial artists practice fists, and sword cultivators practice swords. Although the two were not mutually exclusive, they would definitely divide a lot of energy. Since she cultivated swordsmanship, she also cultivated fist techniques, which naturally required more effort. Fortunately, Chu Yu's patience was quite good.
Lin Zhao stood beside her, arms crossed, and watched for a while.
"See anything noteworthy?"
Chu Yu glanced at him and smiled.
"Can't see anything."
Lin Zhao scratched his head and smiled. "I just feel that your fist techniques are too constrained, lacking true grandeur."
"Ah?"
Chu Yu stopped practicing and frowned. "My lord, what do you mean by that? Explain it clearly."
"Too fixated on individual moves and stances."
Lin Zhao said, "My realm is not high, I'm just spouting nonsense, just listen casually."
Chu Yu chuckled, "You speak first."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao said with a serious expression, "Watching you practice, I always feel that you are too fixated on the moves and fist intent of the 'Rong Ma Fist Technique.' You want to restore the 'Rong Ma Fist Technique' of Chu Huaixi in its original form, but have you, Chu Yu, considered that Marshal Chu's highest realm in his lifetime was only the Sea Stepping realm? How profound could his understanding of fist techniques and fist principles be? Instead of trying to restore the 'Rong Ma Fist Technique,' why don't you try to extend and expand the 'Rong Ma Fist Technique,' making it stronger? If you can truly improve this fist technique and further develop it, Marshal Chu's spirit in heaven would surely be pleased."
"..."
Chu Yu stood on the rock in a daze, her green dress swaying in the wind. Lin Zhao's words struck her heart like a bolt of lightning, deafening and enlightening.
After a long time, Chu Yu cupped her fists towards Lin Zhao, her eyes filled with doubt. "My lord, I find it hard not to suspect, was your past life truly only an eighth-realm martial artist?"
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao smiled slightly and returned the salute with cupped fists. "But my martial virtue is abundant. Otherwise, do you think I could have formed a God of War's gall, rather than an ordinary general's gall?"
Chu Yu smiled and nodded. "I understand. I'm going to continue practicing my punches. My lord, you can go, don't disturb me."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao wasn't angry. He turned and went down the mountain.
In the distance, on an old tree far behind the mountain, the disheveled man, who was on duty as a gatekeeper, was shirking his responsibilities today. He lay horizontally on the tree trunk, holding a wine gourd and taking sip after sip. His side glance was cast towards Lin Zhao and Chu Yu, and he heard all their conversation.
"As expected of my junior brother, my lord..."
Tang Guangjun's eyebrows were tightly furrowed. "Abundant martial virtue, treating the worthy with courtesy. Chu Yu, that girl, was so disrespectful, yet he didn't get angry and spank her. She is both a sword cultivator and a scholar. This state of mind is enough for me, Tang Guangjun, to learn from for a lifetime."
He watched Lin Zhao head down the northern mountain to level up, then his gaze turned south. With the sight of the twelfth-realm Sword Immortal, the entire Qingliang Sect was almost in full view. He couldn't help but chuckle. "The tree wishes to remain still, but the wind does not cease. There are always people who want to court death. Alas..."
He hung the gourd at his waist and rested his head on his arms, closing his eyes to recuperate.
If people from the Qingliang Sect came to attack the mountain, what would happen? Would he, Tang Guangjun, stand up to support the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool? After all... the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool now had a bunch of Middle Five realm cultivators, and only Mu Gua in the Upper Five realms. Mu Gua's fist techniques and fist intent were decent, but he was a bit slow-witted. Once he encountered a twelfth-realm expert, it would be a dead end, let alone a peak twelfth-realm demon race expert?
"Alas..."
He sighed again, lamenting his misfortune. "If I, Tang Guangjun, were to be killed by bad people for the sake of my junior brother, the mountain master, would Tang Guangjun not be considered a bad person in the eyes of the sect leader and my junior brother mountain master?"
...
Qingliang Sect, Sect Master Zhao Suiguang's cave dwelling.
Wu Li, a peak twelfth-realm Great Demon disguised as Yu Wu, in a black and white robe, sat leisurely on the golden roof of the cave dwelling. He took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "Sect Master, the opportune moment is fleeting. If you delay, things will change. You should understand such a simple principle, shouldn't you?"
Zhao Suiguang, sitting by the tea table outside the main hall, put down his teacup and frowned without speaking.